Page:Cornelia Meigs--The island of Appledore.djvu/121

Rh. She chattered gaily as she trotted by his side, and made many matter-of-fact comments on the adventures through which he had  passed.

“I thought your clothes looked as though you had been doing something dreadful to  them,” she said; “I am afraid they will never  be good for anything again.”

Billy did cut rather a sorry figure for he had been wet and dried and wet and dried  again, before his long nap on the dusty floor. He thought little of that, however, but hurried Sally forward through the gathering twilight until they reached the old mill.

It was almost completely dark inside, and felt damp and chilly. Sally had had the forethought to bring candles and matches and, under her instructions, Billy soon had a fire burning in the old fireplace. She bent over Captain Saulsby, who was still lying in the  same deep-breathing stupor, and frowned and  shook her head.

“He’s too old for such adventures,” was her comment. “I don’t like it.”

They heated some water at the fire and mixed a hot drink for the old man which he  roused himself enough to swallow. They